CHINATOWN — Chicago restaurant impresario Tony Hu has a message for fans of his signature, spicy Chinese cuisine.
"I am fine, thx a lot for caring and support!" he said in a brief email exchange with DNAinfo Chicago.
Several of Hu's Chinatown restaurants were raided by federal agents on Friday, forcing them to close down during the lunch rush at Chinatown Square, the retail and restaurant development at Archer and Wentworth avenues.
Authorities have not said what they were after as Friday's impromptu investigations unfolded, but law enforcement officers, clad in FBI jackets and bulletproof vests, were spotted searching computers and reportedly removed several boxes containing paperwork.
An IRS spokeswoman said representatives with the department's criminal investigations unit were "there on official business and I can't comment past that."
No arrests were made.
Hu has indicated he'd be hiring an attorney but declined on Monday to say who will be representing him.
The prolific chef told reporters he didn't know the reason authorities were executing search warrants within at least four of his restaurants, including Lao Yunnan, Lao Shanghai, Laa You Ju and Lao Sze Chuan, considered the flagship of his mini-empire of restaurants and famous for its "Tony's Three Chili Chicken," among other dishes.
All of the restaurants reopened on Friday afternoon.
Sharyne Tu, who heads up the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce — the business group where Hu serves as a director — said the restaurants were "packed as always" over the weekend.
A hostess at the brand new Lao Sze Chuan at the Las Vegas Palms casino and hotel said the desert outpost has not been part of the federal inquiry.
"We're owned by the Palms. We essentially just have his brand. No FBI here," she said.
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